Oklahoma Football: 2019 Washington High School Preseason Preview

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

When 6A Oklahoma football schedules are released each season, one of the squads opposing teams hope is not on there is Booker T. Washington High School. Year after year the Hornets are one of the more skilled and deadly teams in the state rolling over the opposition with next level talent. After a 12-1 season in 2017 that ended hoisting a trophy after downing Bixby (28-21), the Tulsa area squad fell below their own high expectations ending at 8-4. The 2019 season brings a renewed sense of urgency to the field with a mix of veteran leadership, rising underclassmen, and a five-star quarterback/athlete fully taking over in the pocket in Gentry Williams.

As a freshman, Williams led the Hornets in passing yards with 44 completions for 784 yards and 10 touchdowns tossed. The 6-0, 170-pound, dual-threat was also the team’s third leading rusher covering 226 yards positing four more scores on the board while starting at cornerback. Looking back on how the snaps in 2018 helped him with his offseason workouts Williams stated, “It helped me learn what I have to do to be better and help my team win. It was a great experience, a learning experience. It was good to go out there and start playing.”

Two of the top targets on the outside from a year ago return in four-star Javian Hester and Casey Zandbergen. Hester led the team in receiving yards (386) and was tied for most receptions (20) while taking four trips into the end zone. Outside of Williams, Washington lost its three top rushers in 1,000-yard runner Thomas Grayson, Chris Jones, and Aryion Welch. The team may not feel the sting so deeply with talent stepping up per Williams, “We are looking really good. I feel like we will be most athletic team in the state.”

The Hornets defense was stingy last season allowing just 17 points per contest. The heart and soul of the defense returns in senior linebacker Krishawn Brown. The three-star Kansas commit racked up 119 stops, 93 solo, with 30 tackles for a loss, and 14 sacks. The secondary returns a leader in Class of 2021 talent Keuan Parker. Parker was a thief of passes taking away a team-high three in 2018. When the opposition drops back to pass, the Hornets must fill the shoes of graduated players Kiero Petross and Machel Johnson. Petross ended last season with 13 sacks while Johnson tallied 14.

When the lights come on and the pigskin is teed up, the Hornets open the season against Arkansas 7A state champ runner-up in North Little Rock High School. When asked about facing the Charging Wildcats again in 2019 after opening against them last season Williams added, “They match up well with us. They are athletic, they can run, and they can dig. Who can survive that first punch has a great chance at winning.”

After returning from the neutral site game against North Little Rock in Bentonville (AR), there is no letting up with the schedule early in the season traveling to Bishop Kelley before returning home for the first time this season to face the No. 11 team in Arkansas, Bentonville High School. Asked about the other marquee in-state games on the schedule, Williams was quick to list out the Oct. 4 homecoming game against Bixby, the defending 6A state champs and preseason No. 1 (6A) team in Oklahoma.

Can the Hornets add more hardware to the trophy case in 2019? The path is not easy colliding against teams like the aforementioned Bixby along with Bartlesville, Sapulpa, and Muskogee, but this team has experience and proven talent on both sides. No matter what, it will be an entertaining season for the fans of the Hornets.

2019 Hornets Schedule

Aug. 31 vs. North Little Rock High School (AR) – in Bentonville (AR)

Sept. 6 at Bishop Kelley – Bishop Kelley High School

Sept. 13 vs. Bentonville High School – at Washington High School

Sept. 20 – Bye Week

Sept. 27 at Bartlesville – Bartlesville High School

Oct. 4 vs. Bixby – at Washington High School

Oct. 11 at Shawnee – at Shawnee High School

Oct. 17 vs. Sapulpa – at Washington High School

Oct. 25 at Muskogee – Muskogee High School

Nov. 1 vs. Ponca City – at Washington High School

Nov. 8 at Page – at Page High School

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Photo credit: tulsaworld.com; No. 11 Gentry Williams against Shawnee (2018)